Opportunity Granted

he College of Liberal Arts garneredthe largest number of total gifts for anacademic unit in the first-ever Purdue Dayof Giving. The University raised $7.5 millionfrom 6,500 donations during this 24-houronline and social media event supportingstudent affordability and accessibility.

The day’s theme, “Opportunity Granted,”
was exemplified by CLA student Brittany
Mihalec-Adkins, a double major in law and
society and psychology, with minors in global
studies and forensic science, who was featured
in the University video reaching out to alumni
and friends.

An opportunity was exactly what Mihalec-Adkins needed. “I really only considered
Purdue after learning about Purdue Promise,”
she says. After spending years in foster care,
college was never something she saw as a
realistic part of her future. “I always felt like I
was on the outside looking in…watching my
peers live life, and I was living in an entirely
different world. I watched them prepare for
college, be on the homecoming court, travel,

Tand be happy. I honestly thought that my life could never be anything like that and I hadkind of accepted this.”However, after hearing about thePurdue Promise program, which providesfinancial assistance and targeted supportfor eligible 21st Century Scholars, EmergingUrban Leaders, and Purdue OpportunityAward Scholars, Mihalec-Adkins realizedthat attending a university might be anoption after all. Thanks to the generosity ofcommitted donors, Purdue Promise providedexactly the sort of support that she needed.

And in her years at Purdue, Mihalec-Adkins has been an exemplary Boilermaker:she has not only a deep passion for learning,but also a desire to be involved on campusand have an impact. She is active in PurdueStudent Government, Purdue Promise, PurdueFoundation Student Board, and Mortar Board,serves as the president of the Psi Chi HonorSociety in psychology, and is fulfilling anotherResidences and also works at the INSPIREengineering education research institute.